It has been a while since I have just posted photographs of me in an outfit but this week I sat down in front of my fujifilm because this dress just begs to be shot.

This dreamy dress is by Lee Mathews (shop here). It was one of my purchases from my ‘Saving to Spend’ in August and it was an extra win because I got it with a 20% off code on The Iconic. I thought it would be the perfect spring/summer dress and it did not disappoint. As soon as it arrived I have been eyeing it off in different colours.

Almost daily I get questions about the jewellery that I have on so I thought I would compile a list here instead. A guide to some of my favourite brands across different price points. As you can probably tell from the below, I like to wear gold and gold plated where I can. Not to fear if you wear silver as these brands will often cater to you also!

It is definitely wedding season and we are all stressed about what to wear. I haven’t been to a huge amount of weddings so when I had two in the space of a month I hit the freak-out button and starting looking up what I should wear. All of the ‘Wedding Guest Edits’ I could find didn’t really suit my personal style. A silky body conscious dress is beautiful but just isn’t me. Since it may not be you either, I thought I would write this blog post with ideas on what to wear to your next wedding.

Tips before you start shopping.

Have a look through your closet first. You may not need the whole nine yards. You may already have some nice heels or flats, or a bag that you really love that you have been waiting for an excuse to take out. You may already have an outfit but lacking accessories. You don’t need to buy all new. If you love an outfit, why not wear it again?!

Don’t be intimidated by ‘cocktail’ or ‘smart casual’ dress codes. Think about whose wedding you’re attending, what type of wedding they are having & where it is. If you’re going to their wedding you most likely know what they are like. Look up the venue and see if it is on the beach or a ballroom. As long as you’re not turning up to a ballroom venue looking like you’re going to a beach wedding you’ll be fine.

Willing to spend big for something special? Spend the majority of your budget on the thing that you will be able to wear again. If it is too late for you and you have already splurged, don’t forget you can always pass it onto someone else via eBay or Depop.

Don’t leave it to 2 weeks before the wedding. You will most likely buy things you will never wear again & overspend doing so. Planning is your friend.

Lastly, just keep your personal style in mind. It is easy to sometimes get carried away or just find something last minute that looks ‘dressy enough’. By keeping your personal style in mind you also can avoid buying something that you will only wear once.

Bank account friendly

You don’t need to spend a fortune to feel amazing attending a wedding. If you’re on a budget there is so much that you can do to get the most bang for your buck. For a dress, choose something in a classic shape & colour/pattern. Not only so you can wear it again post-wedding but the more classic the shape and colour the less likely it will look like you’ve got it for a steal. Once you have a base it is time to dress it up. My secret is in vintage bags. Not only are they normally priced under $50 but they are so beautiful and will instantly add interest and elevate your look. You can easily find beaded bags on Etsy or at your local vintage, or even a vintage glomesh bag would be divine. Match your metals with some statement earrings & a hair accessory. If you don’t have some staple black strappy heels, I found some for only $79!

Not a dress

I know, florals, groundbreaking but stay with me. Firstly, don’t forget about skirts & trousers for weddings. They are super versatile and can be worn for weddings in all seasons just by a switch of a top. In winter, lean towards a blouse or fitted knit (olivia palermo wedding style) or in summer stick to a silk cami. If the wedding is outside, you may want to think about a chunky heel or flat. Remember that weddings are usually a long affair full of standing and dancing so make sure you’re comfortable in your choice of footwear!

The Summer Wedding

It’s over 35 degrees and you really just want to wear a bikini but the invitation says Smart Casual so I guess that’s a no? If you’re anything like me you just want something that won’t touch your body but also won’t represent a moo moo. The summer maxi is your best friend. I love this option by Matteau because you can wear it all summer long post wedding but the cut and plain colour means you can also elevate it to wedding status. It is all in the accessories. It is time to whip out an interesting bag, earrings or shoes to jazz it up. Going big on the earrings? keep it subtle on the neck & vice versa.

She’s Formal but she’s not boring

Where I would be really stumped is if I had a formal formal wedding coming up. I am not really one for traditional formal fabrics like silks etc so for me I would always go for a knife pleat. They instantly dress up a look without having to be shiny. If you have to go formal, inject some of your personality with the colour choice. Go a full monochromatic look or have some fun with mixing colours. Dresses from brands like Self Portrait hold their value pretty well so even though they are pricier, you will be able to sell it after!

Shop the Wedding Edit

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Lastly, if you have found something on your online/in store shopping travels that you think needs a shoutout - add it to the comments. The way I found something perfect is from my audience tagging me in a post so share the love when you find something beautiful or a brand which you think people need to check out!

with love, jasmine

Let’s talk about fast fashion. Is there any way that when shopping fast fashion we can adapt our shopping habits so that we are doing so as responsibly as we can? First of all let me say that when it comes to purchasing sustainably or only buying from ethical fashion labels there are so many ways around it and it is something you should address personally for your own situation. Is buying something from a fast fashion chain, wearing it for years, taking care of it and repairing it still worse than buying something locally, hardly wearing it then later disposing of it? Often the advice around building a sustainable wardrobe is focused around where you’re shopping. Don’t get me wrong, in an ideal world we would all be shopping more locally and purchasing from smaller designers where you know exactly where your money is going.How amazing that sounds I don’t think people are going to suddenly stop shopping fast fashion all together. This post is going to talk about changing your approach to shopping to avoid falling into the traps of fast fashion.

Fast Fashion brands are those of the likes of ASOS, H&M, TOPSHOP, ZARA etc that mass-produce clothing at a very high turn over to bring trends to the masses. For the purpose of this blog post I am not going to go into the negative impact of this system. This isn’t a blog post for or against fast fashion. There are a lot of issues with this model and its popularity but I instead wanted to focus on how you can shop at stores like these but ensure you are doing so the best way possible.

One large problem I see with fast fashion brands in particular is that it is consumed fast and disposed of fast. It is the trap of the shiny, new & inexpensive product. Try your best to snap out of it to ensure you are thinking about these inexpensive purchases as much you would an expensive purchase. For example; one approach to shopping sustainably is to shop consciously. Play close attention to what you are consuming to make sure whether it is higher end or not, it will stay in your wardrobe and be worn for years to come. These following things are so important to think about every time you shop but even more so when the item is a part of fast fashion.

Look at the fabric & Construction.

Some fashion pieces you can tell straight away whether they are constructed well or not. If things already look a little rough when you pick it up or open the parcel then you know it isn’t going to wash & wear very well so stay clear! Next I look for fabrics that I know will go the distance. I bought a 100% cotton denim dress from ASOS over 3 years ago and it is still going strong today. Some viscose & rayon can be a little iffy so proceed with caution. If you’re buying outerwear look for pieces that are lined.

How Does it feel on?

I really do think this is the biggest thing that has completely changed how I shop and my consumption of fashion in general. If we don’t feel 100% once we put something on. WALK AWAY. Send it back. No you won’t grow to love it, you won’t feel comfortable in it next week. If it isn’t making you feel amazing straight away I bet you will only wear it once or twice (if that) and then you’ll end up donating it down the track when your wardrobe rack collapses due to the weight.

is it versatile?

Can you wear it at least three different ways? To be able to get the most wear out of an item you need to have a look at how it fits in with the rest of your clothes. Will you be able to wear it over and over again and not feel like you look the same every time? This is also the reason I stopped buying printed midi skirts (they are my kryptonite). Yes they are beautiful and I love and want them all but outside of pairing them back with plain t-shirts / knits they aren’t super versatile.

Is it something missing from your wardrobe?

The trap with fast fashion is buying stuff you don’t actually need because it is cheaper. You can be more sustainable with this if you just stop yourself checking out and go look in your wardrobe. For me it is do I really need another printed mini skirt? I want it, but I don’t need it and I already have too many for one girl anyway.

Is this a trend item?

This is where things get a little more personal. Do I think we should be spending a lot of money on items of trend? No. Do I think we should be buying trend throw away pieces? Probably not. I do think we have to be really careful when buying items that are the trend of the moment. If you can honestly say that you will be still wearing that silk leopard skirt in 3 years time and won’t be sick of it then by all means you do you. Just ask yourself if the item is too much of a trend that it won’t be having a long life in your wardrobe. This also goes for slow fashion.

Check the return policy.

Check them twice. You don’t want to buy something only to find out after that you can’t return it for a refund or that it will cost you more to send something back than the item itself. There is no shame in returning something so if you buy something and it doesn’t work out, send it back the next day. That way you can’t procrastinate and then miss the return deadline. I think the longer it hangs around in your house the less likely you are to return it.

I would love to know if you’ve adapted your shopping habits over time to slow down your consumption of fashion! It is such a tough topic to talk about sometimes because most answers don’t seem like the ‘perfect’ one. jasmine x

It is that time of the year & if you’re anything like me you’re already trying to sort out gifting so everything isn’t last minute. This year I have not only put together a gift guide but I have also created a new Gift Editto try & help you find cool gifts for the people in your life.

It is so important to me that these guides help you shop small this Christmas, which is why there is a big focus on small businesses in this post. As a small business, I know how much this time means to an independent brand. Instead of buying a mass produced, heavily ‘inspired’ product, try your best to shop locally this festive season. Trust me, your purchases mean to the world to the handful of people behind these brands.

GIFTS IN STYLE

When it comes to style presents I always stay clear of clothing and stick to accessories. Accessories mean you don’t have to worry about sizing and you can get some great finds for under $25!

Headwear. There are so many great options around at the moment from a great beret, a straw hat for summer or even a cool headband!

Earrings. Think about their personal style, are they more likely to keep it classic or have a little more fun with earrings?

Bags. Bags don’t need to be designer. With the move to reduce plastic there is no better time to gift someone a grocery bag they will actually want to use.

Underwear. Bralettes are the way to go, they are sexy while still being understated. Can’t go wrong with brands like Love Stories!

FOR THE MEN IN OUR LIVES

Magazines & Books. I love magazines & books for myself but they are also the perfect gift for the men in your life. If you’re struggling to find magazines, Magnation might be the website to help you out this festive season.

Tech. All sorts of tech do the trick but this HAY x Sonos One in green is too damn good not to mention.

Beauty. Treat the men in your life and luxe up their beauty routine with a new after shave or skin care!

Coffee. Whether it is a coffee machine or accessories I always find pairing it with a bag of coffee does the trick for the perfect gift hamper.

GIFTS IN BEAUTY

Perfume Discovery Sets. To be honest I think these the best gifts. The cost is normally lower than committing to choosing just one fragrance for someone and they are the perfect size to travel with.

Brush Sets & Beauty Accessories. Who doesn’t need new make up brushes?! They are such good value for money and these by Mecca Cosmetica look so damn pretty! Make Up bags are also always a safe bet for a happy girl at Christmas.

Palettes. The palettes that are released at this time of the year always have me weak at the knees. I could not recommend the Hourglass palettes more. They are my favourite powder formula and these palettes will last you years!

GIFTS AT HOME

You can not go wrong with gifts for the home, this is probably why most girls I know have at least 5 half-burnt candles in their room at one time.

Candles. As above! At this time of the year I love a Christmas Candle but not the cheesy kind. Lumira has one I am eyeing off that says christmas without shoving tinsel in your face.

Artwork. Not only is it a perfect way to support creatives at this time of the year but it something personal that I can promise your friend will cherish. I have an illustration from an 18th birthday present and it still means so much to me.

Bedding. This is the perfect gift for a lover or a roommate!

Trays. Who doesn’t need a good tray?! They are perfect for everything from beauty, perfume, accessories, incense/candles!